Thickness Range Research Articles

Determination of dynamic air gap thickness and analysis of its relationship with firefighters’ joint movement

ABSTRACT Objectives. The purpose of this study was to calculate the dynamic air gap thickness between the human body and the turnout gear. Relationships between the air gap thickness and joint range of motion (ROM) were also explored. Methods. The air gap thickness and joint ROM of 12 male firefighters walking in a control condition with no self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) and three varying-strapped SCBAs were measured using three-dimensional (3D) body scanning and 3D inertial motion capture. The interpolation technique was employed to predict the air gap thickness curve during walking. The dynamic air gap thickness was compared with the joint ROM to see how they relate to the location and percentage of movement restriction. Results. During the walking, the air gap fluctuated as a sine curve. Carrying SCBA reduced the air gap thickness at the trunk most (F = 11.17, p < 0.001, η 2 = 0.63), and adjusting the shoulder strap length altered the air gap distribution at the trunk. The reduced air gap at the pelvis caused an incremental restriction on pelvis rotation. Conclusions. A compatibility design of the shoulder strap and hip belt in SCBA with the turnout jacket is suggested.

Comparative Analysis and Design Optimization of Ferrite-Based Surface PM Vernier Machines

This paper presents the results of a comprehensive investigation into the comparative analysis and design optimization of ferrite-based surface permanent magnet vernier machines (SPMVMs). While SPMVMs boast a simple mechanical structure and enhanced torque density attributed to the flux modulation effect, they suffer from a persistent challenge of low power factor. Several factors hinder the adoption of low-cost ferrite magnets in SPMVMs. First, ferrite magnets are prone to irreversible demagnetization, constraining the allowable range of magnet thickness. Second, the reduced residual magnetic flux density of ferrite magnets exacerbates the decrease in power factor and machine efficiency. Thus, achieving optimal performance in ferrite-based SPMVMs necessitates the careful selection of various design parameters. To address these issues, this study employs a surrogate-based metaheuristic optimization algorithm with adaptive sampling to identify the optimal solution. Additionally, the integration of a Halbach array is explored to further enhance the performance of the three-slot/two-pole SPMVM topology. Subsequently, two ferrite-based SPMVM baseline models—one with a conventional SPM structure and another with a Halbach magnet array—are thoroughly designed, optimized, and subjected to detailed performance analysis using the 2D finite element method.

Synthesis, Characterization, Dielectric, and Electrical Conductivity Studies of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles

A co-precipitation technique is used to synthesize of ZnO nanoparticles. The synthesized ZnO nanoparticles were characterized by UV-visible spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM), photoluminescence, Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The size of the nanoparticles was wide-ranging from 1 nm to 100 nm, corresponding to the HR-TEM analysis. The photoluminescence study of ZnO nanoparticle shows emission in the UV region. The particle dimension of ZnO nanoparticle has also been studied through XRD. Dielectric spectroscopy of synthesized ZnO NPs pellet has been studied at a wide frequency range 10−1 to 105 Hz. The capacitance and dielectric permittivity of ZnO nanoparticles drop continuously with frequency as dipoles have less time to align in the field. Dielectric permittivity of ZnO pellets increase up to 5 mm thickness and subsequently drop, perhaps due to raise in resistivity. The dielectric loss of ZnO pellet has been examined as a function of frequency. The electrical conductivity of ZnO nanoparticles rise exponentially with frequency. Based on the dielectric studies, the dielectric permittivity and electrical conductivity of ZnO are highly depending on thickness and frequency range. The percolation threshold of ZnO pellets has been found between 4-5 mm thicknesses.

Enhanced interlayer Dzyaloshinskii–Moriya interaction and field-free switching in magnetic trilayers with orthogonal magnetization

The indirect interlayer exchange coupling (IEC) between two magnetic layers holds significant importance in the field of spintronics and has been widely used in the construction of synthetic antiferromagnets. Recently, the interlayer Dzyaloshinskii–Moriya interaction (DMI), antisymmetric counterpart of IEC, has been discovered in magnetic trilayers with a heavy-metal spacer. In this study, we present an investigation on antisymmetric and symmetric counterparts of IEC in D022-Mn3Ga/Pt/Co trilayers with orthogonal magnetization. Due to the strong interlayer DMI across the entire multilayer, the symmetry of magnetic reversal process was broken, leading to an enhanced chiral exchange-bias field of 42.7 Oe in the Co layer. In addition, field-free spin–orbit torque (SOT) switching of D022-Mn3Ga layer has been realized in Hall bar devices. In-plane field dependence analysis of the SOT switching behavior reveals that the symmetric counterpart of IEC exhibits antiferromagnetic characteristics within the spacer thickness range of 2 nm ≤ tPt ≤5 nm. Moreover, the magnitude of both antisymmetric and symmetric counterparts of IEC exhibits an exponential decreasing trend with increasing tPt. These findings hold significant implications for the design and manipulation of three-dimensional chiral spin textures in the future spintronic devices.

A theoretical study on optical field distribution and absorption of stacked thin films supported by a reflective back layer

The stacked thin films have recently been of great interest for enhancing the optical and thermal absorption of the system via their specific optical properties depending on the optical wavelength and layer thickness. Here, by using Maxwell’s equation for the electromagnetic fields penetrating thin films, we simulated in detail the absorption of the nanometer-thick thin film of several materials, such as Au, Ag, Cu, and Al, and figured out the optimal thickness range for the outer layers exposed to incoming field to optimize the energy harvesting. In particular, the absorption of the film supported by a totally reflective layer at the back of the structure could be significantly enhanced, and the maximal absorption happens at a layer much thinner than that in the case of the film solely irradiated by the field. These results could help suitably choosing of detailed thickness for the structure to optimize the field effect on a specific layer.

Directional vapor mobility from asymmetric microstructured surfaces in an adverse gravity orientation

Stagnant vapor growth on a downward-facing flat surface leads to increased surface temperature and dryout at relatively low heat fluxes. The current study investigates boiling from a surface with periodic 60°-30° or 75°-15° asymmetric sawtooth microstructures to passively remove vapor slugs in adverse gravity. Bubble dynamics is experimentally investigated in an 8-mm square borosilicate glass tube and visualized using a high-speed camera to measure vapor bubble morphology and velocity in the FC-72 dielectric liquid. The vapor bubble's morphology is observed to change based on its relative size to the ratchets. This change manifests as a decrease in the curvature ratio between the crest and trough of the microstructure as the vapor bubble gets larger. The pattern of vapor slugs nucleating from intended, engineered sites, coalescing to form larger slugs that slide across the microstructure, is observed at different frequencies at different heat fluxes. The microstructure supports increased vapor volume at higher heat fluxes, suggesting that a passive and self-regulating thermal management solution for adverse gravity applications is feasible. An empirical force balance model is developed based on the curvature-induced Young-Laplace pressure difference and retarding forces due to drag and buoyancy. The interplay between these forces is analyzed at different liquid film thicknesses, and the force balance is compared with a 75°-15° sawtooth structure. For a vapor slug spanning four sawteeth, the 75°-15° structure supported a 54 % increase in the feasible liquid film thickness range due to the increased long slope area.

Deposition of high-quality, nanoscale SiO2 films and 3D structures

Silicon dioxide (SiO2) is ubiquitous in biomedical diagnostics and other applications as a capture medium for nucleic acids and proteins. Diagnostic devices have seen rapid miniaturisation in recent years, due to the increased demand for portable point-of-care diagnostics. However, there are increasing challenges with incorporating SiO2 nanostructures into diagnostic devices, due to the complexity of nanostructured SiO2 synthesis, often involving etching and chemical vapour deposition under high vacuum conditions.We report a novel and straightforward method for deposition of high-quality, nanoscale SiO2 films and 3D SiO2 structures using thermal decomposition of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), in a furnace at atmospheric pressure at 500 °C. This method allows individual nanometre controllability of conformal pinhole-free layers on a variety of materials and morphologies. The temperature ramp rate is a key factor in determining the SiO2 deposit morphology, with slower ramp rates leading to highly conformal 2D films and faster ones yielding 3D nanodentrite structures. For the 2D films, the film thickness, as determined by spectroscopic ellipsometry and confirmed by SEM data, is shown to correlate excellently with initial PDMS source material mass in the thickness range 0.8–18 nm. Fits to ellipsometry models confirm that the refractive index of the deposited film matches the expected value for SiO2, while electrical breakdown measurements confirm that the breakdown strength of the films is comparable to that of high-quality thermal oxides. Depositions on high aspect ratio ZnO nanostructures are shown to be highly conformal, leading to core-shell ZnO-SiO2 nanostructures whose shell thickness is in excellent agreement with the expected values from deposition on planar substrates. At faster ramp rates an abrupt morphological transition is seen to a deposit which displays a 3D nanodentrite morphology. The possibilities for applications of both morphologies (and core-shell combinations with other nanostructured materials) in biosensing and related areas are briefly discussed, and the DNA capture capabilities of each nanostructure are measured. The high aspect ratio nanodendrite structures allow for significant DNA capture within microfluidic devices in the presence of low DNA concentrations, with a maximum average capture efficiency of 43.4 % achieved in the presence of 10 ng/mL of DNA, which is an improvement by a factor of ∼ 3 over planar Si surfaces. Improvements by factors of >10 over planar surfaces were achieved at higher DNA concentrations of 100 and 1000 ng/mL.

Regulating the Electronic Structure of MAX Phases Based on Rare Earth Element Sc to Enhance Electromagnetic Wave Absorption.

MAX phases are highly promising materials for electromagnetic (EM) wave absorption because of their specific combination of metal and ceramic properties, making them particularly suitable for harsh environments. However, their higher matching thickness and impedance mismatching can limit their ability to attenuate EM waves. To address this issue, researchers have focused on regulating the electronic structure of MAX phases through structural engineering. In this study, we successfully synthesized a ternary MAX phase known as Sc2GaC MAX with the rare earth element Sc incorporated into the M-site sublayer, resulting in exceptional conductivity and impressive stability at high temperatures. The Sc2GaC demonstrates a strong reflection loss (RL) of -47.7 dB (1.3 mm) and an effective absorption bandwidth (EAB) of 5.28 GHz. It also achieves effective absorption of EM wave energy across a wide frequency range, encompassing the X and Ku bands. This exceptional performance is observed within a thickness range of 1.3 to 2.1 mm, making it significantly superior to other Ga-MAX phases. Furthermore, Sc2GaC exhibited excellent absorption performance even at elevated temperatures. After undergoing oxidation at 800 °C, it achieves a minimum RL of -28.3 dB. Conversely, when treated at 1400 °C under an argon atmosphere, Sc2GaC demonstrates even higher performance, with a minimum RL of -46.1 dB. This study highlights the potential of structural engineering to modify the EM wave absorption performance of the MAX phase by controlling its intrinsic electronic structure.

Density Functional Theory Study of the Spin-Orbit Insulating Phase in SnTe Cubic Nanowires: Implications for Topological Electronics.

We investigate the electronic, structural, and topological properties of the SnTe and PbTe cubic nanowires using ab initio calculations. Using standard and linear-scale density functional theory, we go from the ultrathin limit up to the nanowire thicknesses observed experimentally. Finite-size effects in the ultrathin limit produce an electric quadrupole and associated structural distortions; these distortions increase the band gap, but they get reduced with the size of the nanowires and become less and less relevant. Ultrathin SnTe cubic nanowires are trivial band gap insulators; we demonstrate that by increasing the thickness, there is an electronic transition to a spin-orbit insulating phase due to trivial surface states in the regime of thin nanowires. These trivial surface states with a spin-orbit gap of a few meV appear at the same k-point of the topological surface states. Going to the limit of thick nanowires, we should observe the transition to the topological crystalline insulator phase with the presence of two massive surface Dirac fermions hybridized with the persistent trivial surface states. Therefore, we have the copresence of massive Dirac surface states and trivial surface states close to the Fermi level in the same region of the k-space. According to our estimation, the cubic SnTe nanowires are trivial insulators below the critical thickness tc1 = 10 nm, and they become spin-orbit insulators between tc1 = 10 nm and tc2 = 17 nm, while they transit to the topological phase above the critical thickness of tc2 = 17 nm. These critical thickness values are in the range of typical experimental thicknesses, making the thickness a relevant parameter for the synthesis of topological cubic nanowires. Pb1-xSnxTe nanowires would have both these critical thicknesses tc1 and tc2 at larger values depending on the doping concentration. We discuss the limitations of density functional theory in the context of topological nanowires and the consequences of our results on topological electronics.

Physical and dosimetric characterisation of different Contrast-Enhanced digital mammographic systems: A multicentric study

PurposeContrast-enhanced digital mammography (CEDM) is a relatively new imaging technique recombining low- and high-energy mammograms to emphasise iodine contrast. This work aims to perform a multicentric physical and dosimetric characterisation of four state-of-the-art CEDM systems. MethodsWe evaluated tube output, half-value-layer (HVL) for low- and high-energy and average glandular dose (AGD) in a wide range of equivalent breast thicknesses. CIRS phantom 022 was used to estimate the overall performance of a CEDM examination in the subtracted image in terms of the iodine difference signal (S). To calculate dosimetric impact of CEDM examination, we collected 4542 acquisitions on patients. ResultsEven if CEDM acquisition strategies differ, all the systems presented a linear behaviour between S and iodine concentration. The curve fit slopes expressed in PV/mg/cm2 were in the range [92–97] for Fujifilm, [31–32] for GE Healthcare, [35–36] for Hologic, and [114–130] for IMS. Dosimetric data from patients were matched with AGD values calculated using equivalent PMMA thicknesses. Fujifilm exhibited the lowest values, while GE Healthcare showed the highest. ConclusionThe subtracted image showed the ability of all the systems to give important information about the linearity of the signal with the iodine concentrations. All the patient-collected doses were under the AGD EUREF 2D Acceptable limit, except for patients with thicknesses ≤35 mm belonging to GE Healthcare and Hologic, which were slightly over. This work demonstrates the importance of testing each CEDM system to know how it performs regarding dose and the relationship between PV and iodine concentration.

Study on field emission performance of SrTiO3 film enhanced by LiF film

A series of monolayer SrTiO3 films and LiF/SrTiO3 bilayer films were prepared on n-Si substrates by using vacuum electron beam vapor deposition (EBVD) technology. The morphologies and thicknesses of the SrTiO3 film and LiF film were controlled through adjustments and optimization of the growth conditions as well as deposition time. The experimental results show that the field emission performance of SrTiO3 film is significantly improved after LiF film is added. Under the research conditions in our laboratory, a large number of LiF/SrTiO3 bilayer film field emission devices have been tested and analyzed in the wide range of LiF film thickness (10–300 nm), and the effective field emission LiF film thickness (50–90 nm) was initially determined. Further study shows that the LiF/SrTiO3 bilayer film has the best field emission performance when the optimal LiF film thickness is 70 nm, and its maximum field emission current density can reach 305.48 μA/cm2. The field emission current density of the LiF/SrTiO3 bilayer thin film device is nearly 4 times compared to that of the monolayer SrTiO3 film when the applied electric field intensity reaches 9.05 V/μm. All the field emission devices exhibit excellent functioning stability and experimental reproducibility.

Stromal lenticule addition keratoplasty with corneal crosslinking for corneal ectasia secondary to FS-LASIK: a case series.

To explore the clinical efficacy and safety of stromal lenticule addition keratoplasty (SLAK) with corneal crosslinking (CXL) on patients with corneal ectasia secondary to femtosecond laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (FS-LASIK). A series of 5 patients undertaking SLAK with CXL for the treatment of corneal ectasia secondary to FS-LASIK were followed for 4-9mo. The lenticules were collected from patients undertaking small incision lenticule extraction (SMILE) for the correction of myopia. Adding a stromal lenticule was aimed at improving the corneal thickness for the safe application of crosslinking and compensating for the thin cornea to improve its mechanical strength. All surgeries were conducted successfully with no significant complications. Their best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) ranged from 0.05 to 0.8-2 before surgery. The pre-operational total corneal thickness ranged from 345-404 µm and maximum keratometry (Kmax) ranged from 50.8 to 86.3. After the combination surgery, both the corneal keratometry (range 55.9 to 92.8) and total corneal thickness (range 413-482 µm) significantly increased. Four out of 5 patients had improvement of corneal biomechanical parameters (reflected by stiffness parameter A1 in Corvis ST). However, 3 patients showed decreased BCVA after surgery due to the development of irregular astigmatism and transient haze. Despite the onset of corneal edema right after SLAK, the corneal topography and thickness generally stabilized after 3mo. SLAK with CXL is a potentially beneficial and safe therapy for advanced corneal ectasia. Future work needs to address the poor predictability of corneal refractometry and compare the outcomes of different surgical modes.

The Effects of Target Thicknesses and Backing Materials on a Ti-Cu Collision Weld Interface Using Laser Impact Welding

This study demonstrates that the thickness of the target and its backing condition have a powerful effect on the development of a wave structure in impact welds. Conventional theories and experiments related to impact welds show that the impact angle and speed of the flyer have a controlling influence on the development of wave structure and jetting. These results imply that control of reflected stress waves can be effectively used to optimize welding conditions and expand the range of acceptable collision angle and speed for good welding. Impact welding and laser impact welding are a class of processes that can create solid-state welds, permitting the formation of strong and tough welds without the creation of significant heat affected zones, and can avoid the gross formation of intermetallic in dissimilar metal pairs. This study examined small-scale impact using a consistent launch condition for a 127 µm commercially pure titanium flyer impacted against commercially pure copper target with thicknesses between 127 µm and 1000 µm. Steel and acrylic backing layers were placed behind the target to change wave reflection characteristics. The launch conditions produced normal collision at about 900 m/s at the weld center, with decreasing impact speed and increasing angle moving toward the outer perimeter. The target thickness had a large effect on wave morphology, with the wave amplitude increasing with target thickness in both cases, peaking when target thickness is about twice flyer thickness, and then falling. The acrylic backing showed a consistently smaller unwelded central zone, indicating that impact welding is possible at a smaller angle in that case. Strength was measured in destructive tensile testing. Failure was controlled by the breakdown of the weaker of the two base metals over all thicknesses and backings. This demonstrates that laser impact welding is a robust method for joining dissimilar metals over a range of thicknesses.

Experimental study of a dense stream of particles impacting on an inclined surface

We present measurements of the impact process of gravity-driven flows of particles against inclined surfaces for a range of particle loadings in the four-way coupled regime. These were investigated with particle image velocimetry (PIV) for a range of particle curtain thicknesses, volume fractions, velocities and mass flow rates using a series of hoppers of various aperture sizes, following impact on a steel plate at a range of angles from 15° to 75°. In addition, micro-shadowgraphy was used to provide new details of the region of impact, providing the first direct evidence of the formation of layer of particles that slide along the surface for sufficiently high particle volume fractions. Statistical measurements of particle impact and rebound velocities, together with rebound angle and coefficient of restitution, were obtained from the PIV analysis, which revealed that an increase in particle loading leads to increase in the probability that a layer of particles at the surface is formed at the point of impact. This layer acts to absorb energy for all impact angles, thereby influencing the rebound processes. For impact angles close to the normal direction the layer also increases the range of rebound angles, while it causes particles to slide along the surface as a chute-like flow for large inclination angles.

Data retrieval from archival renal biopsies using nonlinear microscopy.

Thorough examination of renal biopsies may improve understanding of renal disease. Imaging of renal biopsies with fluorescence nonlinear microscopy (NLM) and optical clearing enables three-dimensional (3D) visualization of pathology without microtome sectioning. Archival renal paraffin blocks from 12 patients were deparaffinized and stained with Hoechst and Eosin for fluorescent nuclear and cytoplasmic/stromal contrast, then optically cleared using benzyl alcohol benzyl benzoate (BABB). NLM images of entire biopsy fragments (thickness range 88-660 μm) were acquired using NLM with fluorescent signals mapped to an H&E color scale. Cysts, glomeruli, exudative lesions, and Kimmelstiel-Wilson nodules were segmented in 3D and their volumes, diameters, and percent composition could be obtained. The glomerular count on 3D NLM volumes was high indicating that archival blocks could be a vast tissue resource to enable larger-scale retrospective studies. Rapid optical clearing and NLM imaging enables more thorough biopsy examination and is a promising technique for analysis of archival paraffin blocks.

Hexagonal Boron Nitride Spacers for Fluorescence Imaging of Biomolecules

AbstractFluorescence imaging is an invaluable tool to investigate biomolecular dynamics, mechanics, and interactions in aqueous environments. Two‐dimensional materials offer large‐area, atomically smooth surfaces for wide‐field biomolecule imaging. Despite the success of graphene for on‐chip biosensing and biomolecule manipulation, its strong fluorescence‐quenching properties pose a challenge for biomolecular investigations that are based on direct optical readouts. Here, we employ few‐layer hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) as a precisely tailorable fluorescence spacer between labelled lipid membranes and graphene substrates. By stacking high‐quality hBN crystals in the 10–20 nm thickness range on monolayer graphene, we observe distance‐dependent fluorescence intensity variations. Remarkably, with hBN spacers as thin as 20 nm, the fluorescence intensity is comparable to bare SiO2/Si substrates, while the intensity was reduced to 60 % and 80 % with ~10 nm and ~16 nm hBN thicknesses respectively. We confirm that pre‐determined hBN thicknesses can be employed to control the non‐radiative energy transfer properties of graphene, with fluorescence quenching following a d−4 distance‐dependent behaviour. This seamless integration of electronically active and dielectric van der Waals materials into vertical heterostructures enables multifunctional platforms addressing the manipulation, localization, and visualization of biomolecules for fundamental biophysics and biosensing applications.

An investigation of the influence of various factors on the electrical performance of a (CuGaS2) -based thin-film solar cell using SCAPS-1D software

Applying photovoltaics to harvest solar energy is in high demand at the global level. In this study, the modeling tool SCAPS-1D is used to design the cell structure with indium sulfide as a buffer layer, Copper gallium sulfide (CuGaS2) semiconductor compound as the absorber layer, and un-doped and n-doped zinc oxide as the window layer. This study aims to establish an optimal absorber and buffer layer thickness for CuGaS2 thin film solar cells. Among three-generation solar cells, copper gallium sulfide-based photovoltaic cells have grown wider. Indium sulphide is a novel film absorber with good physical characteristics and a band gap energy of 2.4 eV. CuGaS2 thin film performance with various buffer and absorber layer thicknesses for solar cell applications is numerically modeled. This work obtained a thickness range of 50–125 nm and 1000–5000 nm for the buffer and absorber layers, respectively. It also founds an ideal PV system with an efficiency of 10.09% (JSC = 5.30 mA/cm2, VOC = 2.88 V and FF = 67.09%). These modeling results will provide some essential guidelines for making more effective CuGaS2 based solar cells.

Influence of secondary lining thickness on mechanical behaviours of double-layer lining in large-diameter shield tunnels

In large-diameter shield tunnels, applying the double-layer lining structure can improve the load-bearing properties and maintain the stability of segmental lining. The secondary lining thickness is a key parameter in the design of a double lining structure, which is worth being explored. Based on an actual large-diameter shield tunnel, loading model tests are carried out to investigate the effect of the secondary lining thickness on the mechanical behaviours of the double lining structure. The test results show that within the range of secondary lining thicknesses discussed, the load-bearing limit of the double-layer lining increases with growing secondary lining thickness. As a passive support, the secondary lining acts as an auxiliary load-bearing structure by contacting the segment. And changes in secondary lining thickness have a significant effect on the contact state between the segment and secondary lining, with both the contact pressure level and the contact area between the two varying. For double-layer lining structures in large-diameter shield tunnels, it is proposed that the stiffness of the secondary lining needs to be matched to the stiffness of the segment, as this allows them to have a coordinated deformation and a good joint load-bearing effect.

Slot‐Die Deposition of CuSCN Using Asymmetric Alkyl Sulfides as Cosolvent for Low‐Cost and Fully Scalable Perovskite Solar Cell Fabrication

The development of industrially relevant deposition processes for efficient, stable, and inexpensive charge extracting layers is crucial for the commercialization of perovskite solar cells (PSCs). This work demonstrates, for the first time, the deposition of copper thiocyanate (CuSCN) as a low‐cost and reliable hole‐transport layer using slot‐die coating. Methyl ethyl sulfide is thereby used as an asymmetric cosolvent to significantly increase the solubility of CuSCN in the utilized slot‐die ink compared to traditional pure diethyl sulfide‐based solutions. Optimized CuSCN inks allow for the deposition of CuSCN layers on 5 × 10 cm2 substrates with a wide range of thicknesses. Multidimensional imaging photoluminescence techniques are used to investigate the uniformity of the CuSCN thin films deposition as well as the influence of the solvent on charge losses. Finally, the CuSCN slot‐die deposition is integrated into a fully upscalable PSC fabrication process showing 19.1% power conversion efficiency for small laboratory cells and 14.7% for 9 cm2 minimodules. Furthermore, semitransparent minimodules retain 80% of their initial efficiency after 500 h of constant illumination.

Experimental modal testing of growing thin ice

Current practices for assessing the thickness of growing ice include drilling and coring. This is inherently risky and motivates the use of a stand-off method. Laser Doppler vibrometry is a potential technique, however, the interpretation of vibrometer signals must be informed by a physical understanding of ice subjected to mechanical vibrations. The vibrational response of growing, thin ice is largely unknown. For thick ice, adequate predictions for the vibrational response assumes ice behaves as an elastic plate. It is hypothesized that thin ice responds in a fashion somewhere between an elastic membrane and an elastic plate. A modal test of thin ice growing within an insulated plastic basin was conducted over the course of two tests. The resulting dataset spans a range of ice thicknesses from 8 to 45 mm. Examination of Bode and Nyquist plots showed that the two lowest observable ice resonances, as measured at the center of the ice sheet, exhibit a dependence on ice thickness distinctly different from a fixed elastic plate loaded by a half-space of water. Preliminary finite-element analysis calculations indicates that the basin wall compliance is a significant factor in modifying the ice resonance versus thickness relationship.